I don't think the lack of jobs available at the moment is the core issue. I think there are a number of issues which are affecting and causing the situation in our cities.
The long term deprivation many communities have, the continual lack of prospects, oppurtunities and jobs mean that there are whole sections of our society that are completely disconnected. They just don't see the world the way many of the people on here do. Because of the media, need for instant gratification and the expectation that they should be able to afford the lifestyle they want when in reality they can't it provokes anger and frustration.
In addition to that there is a continual problem with broken homes and absent parenting, being a step father I understand that parenting is tough, that sometimes partnerships need to end. But too frequently that has led to absent fathers.
Our society has stopped a lot of traditional parenting, parents are being threatened of being reported to child line by their own children and it has spiraled. I understand the need to protect children, but I also believe boundaries should be set, which they consistently aren't or aren't enforced.
Our police force is restricted, under manned, under equipped and have low morale. Why would you get involved in a riot when if you strike someone they could die and you could get prosecuted, no water cannons and no rubber bullets like almost every other state police force have in Europe. They can't even tell someone off for spitting as it a "cultural issue" and when they do arrest people they don't get punished. Not one burglar last year received the maximum sentence from the courts.
So why should these people with zero prospects obey the law, respect people and their property? They have nothing to lose because if they get caught, which is unlikely, they won't get punished.
Realistically the short term answer is to equip our police force, which rioters will stay out when soaking wet? Or being shot at with rubber bullets?
Long term, there are so many issues I couldn't list them all. The priorities in my eyes would be a stonger police force, better education and actually getting children out of poverty.